Canaccord Genuity Rates AeroVironment (AVAV) buy

Canaccord Genuity maintains its buy rating on AeroVironment, Inc., setting a $280 price target, a 69.63% upside from the current price.

By TradeTexts Research Desk · Published Jul 1, 2026, 10:00 AM EDT · Updated Jul 1, 2026, 3:01 PM EDT

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Canaccord Genuity rated AeroVironment, Inc. ($AVAV) "buy" with a $280 price target on July 1, 2026.

Since the rating, $AVAV is down 8.5% after 1 week, down 13.4% after 1 month and down 29.4% to date (from the $172.44 close on Jul 1, 2026).

AVAV AeroVironment, Inc.

$121.79 -52.46% year to date

Daily close · Oct 16, 2026

Key Points

Canaccord Genuity reiterated its buy rating on AeroVironment, Inc. (NasdaqGS: AVAV) with a price target of $280 as of July 1, 2026.
Canaccord Genuity's $280 price target implies 69.63% upside from AeroVironment, Inc.'s ($AVAV) current $165.07 share price.
AeroVironment's stock traded at $165.07 on Wednesday, with a market cap of approximately $8.35 billion.
Analysts maintain a consensus buy rating with an average target price of $285.99, based on 16 analyst opinions.

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Canaccord Genuity has reiterated its buy rating on AeroVironment, Inc. (NasdaqGS: AVAV) and set a price target of $280. This update came from analyst Austin Moeller on July 1, 2026. The aerospace and defense company, known for its unmanned aircraft systems, saw its stock trading at $165.07 on Wednesday.

Analyst rating track record

Canaccord Genuity vs. the S&P 500

YTD return -31.96% hypothetical

All-time return +10.48% S&P 500 +39.16%

vs. S&P 500 -28.68% behind the index

Hypothetical returns from Canaccord Genuity's disclosed trades, not real profit or advice. How we model this.

AeroVironment, Inc. Stock Up 36.9%

Shares of AeroVironment, Inc. traded near $165.07 on Wednesday. The company, which specializes in aerospace and defense technologies, has a market capitalization of about $8.35 billion. It has a forward P/E ratio of approximately 30.59 and a beta of 1.361, indicating a level of volatility higher than the market average. Over the past 52 weeks, the stock has ranged from a low of $135.20 to a high of $417.86. The company's 50-day moving average is $177.09, while the 200-day moving average stands at $255.36.

12-month forecast

$AVAV price target

AeroVironment, Inc. daily closes and this analyst's $280 target. Not advice.

Other Institutional Activity in AeroVironment, Inc.

Several institutional investors have adjusted their positions in AeroVironment, Inc. BlackRock, Inc. reduced its holdings by 708,485 shares, leaving it with about 4.96 million shares valued at $907.87 million, a 12.5% decrease. State Street Corp increased its stake by 307,712 shares, bringing its total to approximately 2.29 million shares worth $419.07 million, reflecting a 15.5% increase. Vanguard Portfolio Management LLC and Vanguard Capital Management LLC both opened new positions, acquiring about 1.69 million shares and 1.62 million shares, respectively, valued at $310.05 million and $295.87 million. Meanwhile, Baillie Gifford & Co trimmed its position by 153,070 shares to hold around 1.03 million shares, a 13% decrease.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

On July 1, 2026, Canaccord Genuity maintained its buy rating on AeroVironment, Inc. with a price target of $280. This aligns with Wedbush's initiation of coverage with a buy rating and a $250 target on the same day. Other firms like UBS, Needham, Stifel, RBC Capital, and Keybanc have also maintained their ratings, with targets ranging from $166 to $248. The consensus among analysts is a buy rating, with an average target price of $285.99 based on 16 opinions.

Insider Buying and Selling at AeroVironment, Inc.

Recent insider activity at AeroVironment, Inc. includes several transactions on June 29, 2026. Stevenson Trace, President of Autonomous Systems, sold 1,710 shares at $139 each, while also acquiring 4,765 shares. Melissa Ann Brown, EVP and Chief Legal Officer, bought 9,175 shares. Sean Thomas Woodward, CFO, sold 855 shares at $139 per share. Wahid Nawabi, Chair, President, and CEO, sold 28,265 shares at the same price.

About AeroVironment, Inc.

AeroVironment, Inc., headquartered in Arlington, Virginia, is a leader in the design and production of unmanned aircraft systems and related technologies. The company serves both government and commercial clients, providing advanced solutions in autonomous systems and precision strike capabilities. Led by CEO Wahid Nawabi, AeroVironment employs approximately 1,456 people and operates in the aerospace and defense sector.

Bottom Line

Canaccord Genuity's reiteration of a buy rating and a $280 price target reflects confidence in AeroVironment, Inc.'s prospects. The company's focus on innovative defense technologies keeps it in the spotlight for investors tracking the aerospace and defense industry. As always, it's important to remember that this analyst update is based on past data and may not reflect current market conditions.